HeraldNet: Consumers fight back online



RECENT POSTS:
• Light blogging ahead ... July 8 • Techies campaign for president July 8 • YouTube watch lists? July 3 • Laptops in limbo July 3 • Scientists try to destroy earth ... or not July 3

Archives:




ADVERTISEMENT <script language=JavaScript src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/vj?z=heraldnet&ct=122081&dim=169231&abr=$scriptiniframe"></script><noscript><a href="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/cc?z=heraldnet"><img src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/vc?z=heraldnet&ct=122081&dim=169231&abr=$imginiframe" width="160" height="600" border="0"></a></noscript>

Technology Blog

April 18, 2008

Consumers fight back online

Posted at 2:35 pm by Eric Fetters

In yesterday's post, I included a link to Comcastmustdie.com, which has become one of the best-known "consumer frustration" Web sites. It was created by Bob Garfield, a columnist for Advertising Age and co-host of public radio's weekly "On the Media" show. He usually sounds like a reasonable man, but Comcast's customer service trifled with him one too many times and he vented his rage into creating the Web site.

BusinessWeek recently wrote about "consumer vigilantes" such as Garfield who have harnessed the power of the Web, YouTube and e-mail to get attention - and sometimes resolution to their problems - faster and more effectively than if they made a phone call and or sent a complaint letter.

Comcast admits in that story that they now track and try to fix problems posted on Garfield's site. It's nice to see consumers using the Webosphere to fight back; it's something that warms the hearts of anyone - which is just about everyone, actually - who has battled against a big company to get a bill fixed or a technical problem resolved.

I haven't had such problems with Comcast personally, but there's a big phone company that serves Snohomish County, starts with a V and rhymes with "horizon" that has on occasion made me want to tear my hair out.

One last thing: This YouTube video was created for Comcastmustdie.com, but it's relatable to anyone who's spent days on the phone trying to resolve a billing or service problem.

And, in the interest of fairness, here's one that vents against Verizon.

Return to Technology Blog

TODAY'S TOP JOBS

View All Top Jobs

>> view all top homes

>> view all homes

<script language=JavaScript src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/vj?z=heraldnet&dim=100749&abr=$scriptiniframe"></script><noscript><a href="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/cc?z=heraldnet"><img src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/vc?z=heraldnet&dim=100749&abr=$imginiframe" width="728" height="90" border="0"></a></noscript>
\|Contact Us \|Advertiser Services \|Home Delivery \|Newsstand Locations \|Classifieds \|Feedback \|About the Company \|Work@the Herald \|Site Map	© 2008 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA.